Local Partnership Supports the Next Generation of Diesel Technicians

In Salem, OR, a public transportation service and community college shared how their partnership provides students with hands-on learning and strengthens the region’s skilled workforce. Recently, Cherriots bus service provided Chemeketa Community College’s Diesel Technology Program with donated equipment, including transmissions, steering gearboxes, and a rear axle. The components will be used in classroom labs to help students understand, dismantle, and rebuild real transit vehicle systems.

“These parts allow students to learn on the same equipment they’ll encounter in the field,” said Kevin Ruby, instructor for Chemeketa’s Diesel Technology Program. “They’ll study how each system works, conduct failure analysis, and practice the skills that prepare them for today’s high-tech diesel jobs.”

Cherriots also helps connect students to potential employers in the transit industry. Diesel technology students have toured the Cherriots maintenance shop for an up-close look at transit operations. Students explored vehicle lifts, fluid delivery systems, and electric bus charging infrastructure, gaining insight into how modern maintenance teams support a diverse and sustainable fleet.

Proud of the partnership, Cherriots Board President Maria Hinojos Pressey said, “From parts donations and shop tours to upcoming career workshops, these initiatives help build a stronger workforce that benefits the district, our students, and the entire Mid-Willamette Valley.”

Zach Leeth, Cherriots maintenance manager and member of Chemeketa’s Diesel Technology Advisory Committee, remarked that the partnership “bridges education and industry.” He said, “It helps students build their skills while showing them that careers in public transit maintenance are rewarding, stable, and essential to keeping our communities moving.”